Dehumidifier



Nov. 13, 1951 A. T. RACE, JR I DEHUMIDIFIER Filed Feb. 26, 1951 INVENTOR ,lwizizl'law, J:

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 13, 1951 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEHUMIDIFIER AustinT. Race, Jr., Winter Haven, Fla.

Application February 26, 1951, Serial No. 212,777

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to dehumidifiers, and more particularly to devices'ofthis character'intended for: household use for removing the mois- .ture from the air in closets, drawers and the like where apparel'is kept, with a view to preventing mold and objectionable odors, as well as injury to the stored garments.

The invention relates to an improved structure for adevice of thischaracter utilizing certain essential features disclosed in my prior and .copending application, Serial No. 104,327, nowPatent No. 2,554,879,issued May29, 1951 butmodified in structureto-render the-.same simpler in manufactureand capable of undergoing more arduous duty byreason of its structural:features.

-An object of theinventionis to provide an improved dehumidifier for domestic purposes -.capable.oflbeingregenerated by heating in'an oven or thelike, and which issimple and inexpensive to-assemble, whileat the sametime providing a rugged construction permitting the stacking of unitsif desiredto supplement :the drying efiects within closures of varying size.

Otherobjects will more particularly appear in the courseof the following detailed description.

.The inventionconsists in the novel construc tion, arrangement and combinations of parts hereinaftermore particularly described and claimed.

One sheet of drawings accompanies'this specification "as part thereof, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinalcross sectional view through the improved dehumidifier;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross section taken on line 3-3 .of' Figure .1; and

1 .Eigure .4' is aperspective view of the bridge support for the-indicator vial.

In accordance with the present invention a tubular body I herein illustrated as of cylindrical form, is provided, preferably formed of a heatresisting, form-retaining material, and desirably formed of aluminum.

Within the tubular container I are positioned outer end disks 3 and 4 conforming in shape to the shape of the interior of the container I, and adapted to operate as end closures for said container.

Both of the end disks 3 and 4 are provided with spaced ports 8 through which air can circulate from one end of the container to the other.

The upper or head end disk 4 is further pro- 2 vided with a central port I 0 formed in a depressed seat 9 shaped and sized to accommodate-the bottom or closed transparent end of the elongated vial I I, so as to position said vial substantially'on the central axis of the container I with itsltransparent bottom 2| under and'closelya'djacent the port Ill.

The vial I I is formed with a threaded neck I2 of slightly less diameter than the body portion of the vial, providing a-shoulder' liagainst which a bridge member I6 can rest.

The bridge member I6 is of general U shape having a central head portion I'I provided with an orifice I8 adapted to seat over the neckof the vial II and againstthe shoulder'l3. The legs it of the bridge memberare formed with terminal lugs I9 adapted to engage diametrically opposed marginal portions of the head disk 4, as is well illustrated in Figure 1, thereby in conjunction with the seat 9 in'said head disk 4' positioningthe vial I I securely with respect to the container I and in alignment with its axis.

Against the inner faceof each of the end disks 3 and 4 are positioned circular screen members 5 and 6, the screen member'B differing from the opposite screen member 5 by having a central orifice through which the vial I I can pass, but both the screen members 5 and 6 overlying-and screen'- ing all of the ports 8 in the respective end disks.

In assembly,,the peripheral edge of one end of the tubular container l is turned or burred inwardly to-from anannular-shoulder?. Against this annular shoulder is positioned the top end disk4 with which isassociated thevial =I I ha'ving its transparent bottom z l positioned in the seat 9, the vial being secureolto thedisk 4 and its-"associated'screen'6 -by havingthe lugslll of the arms I6 of the bridge member engaging said disk. -With theseparts in position,'the contain-' er I is inverted andthe vial I l'filled with-comminuted moisture-sensitive material capable of changing color,-dependentupon its moisture content. Thescr-ewcap I4 is then threaded over the threaded neck "IE or the-vial N, the cap I4 being provided with a-centr-alorifice id-through which-air circulating --wit-hin the-container I can enter the vial II. After the vial II has been filled with this moisture-sensitive material 25, the screw cap I 4 is secured to the vial, thus rigidly associating the vial and its contents with the head 4 and container I. Thereafter, the container I is filled with comminuted moisture-absorbing material 20 until the container I is filled. The screen 5 and end disk 3 are then positioned over the comminuted material 2ll and the peripheral edge of the container I is turned in wardly as at 2' to form a second annular flange, thereby retainingthe bottom end disk 3 in position.

It will be apparent that as thus constructed the vial with its contents and surrounded waterabsorbing material are permanently positioned within the container l and protected by the rigid character of said container.

The moisture laden air in the closet or other compartment is free tocirculate through the container I and the water-absorbent material 28 therein, but by reason of the positioning of the vial H with its inner end substantially medial of the container I, the air surrounding the watersensitive material 25 will only become affected when the water-absorbent material has become substantially saturated throughout the entire area of the container I. When the water-absorbent material has become substantially saturated throughout the container I, the natural attraction existing between moisture and the water-sensitive material 25 will cause the absorption of said moisture through the comminuted material 25 so that when the entire device is water saturated that condition will be indicated by the portion of the granulated Water-sensitive material 25 observable through the central port ill on the head end of the device.

When the device has thus became water saturated, it will be placed in an oven and subjected to dry heat which will gradually drive off the moisture from both the water-absorbent material 20 and the water-sensitive material 25, and the material adjacent the transparent bottom 2i visible through port ID will only change its color to indicate a dry state when all of the Water-absorbent material and water-sensitive material are completely dry, at which point the device has been restored to its maximum utility as a dehumidifier.

From the above it will be apparent that the location of the vial with its single port l5 positioned substantially medial or the contents of the container I, is essential to the functioning of the device with maximum efiiciency. It will further be apparent that by positioning the vial H containing the moisture-sensitive material rigidly with respect to the end disk 4, the proper positioning of the vial is definitely assured under all conditions.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. Dehumidifier comprising, a drum-like body,

top and bottom disks each formed with a plurality of spaced ports, screen disks positioned inwardly of and in contact with said bottom and top disk, a vial having a transparent bottom and a threaded neck, a threaded cap to engage the neck of the vial said cap having a vent and a bridge member engaging said vial at its neck end and having its ends engaging the marginal edge of the top disk to maintain said vial with its transparent bottom in register with one of the ports in the top disk, with said vial filled with comminuted material re lect moisture.

content by color change, and the drum body filled with comminuted water absorbent material surrounding said vial.

2. Dehumidifier comprising, a drum-like body of form retaining, heat resisting material, top and bottom disks each formed with a plurality of spaced ports, the top disk formed with a central port surrounded by an outwardly depressed seat, a vial having a transparent bottom said vial adapted to be positioned within the drum with its bottom in said seat, said vial formed with a threaded neck, a threaded cap closure for the vial having a port, a bridge member having a central orifice to receive the neck end of the vial and oppositely extending arms having their ends engaging the marginal edge of the top disk to secure said vial to said disk, screen disks positioned within the drum against the inner faces of the top and bottom disks to mask the ports in said disks, said vial filled with a comminuted moisture sensitive indicating material, and said drum filled with a comminuted Water absorbent material surrounding said vial, the marginal edges of said drum bein turned inwardly to permanently secure said parts in as sembled relationship.

3. Dehumidifier comprising, a drum-like body of form retaining, heat resisting material, top and bottom disks each formed with a plurality of spaced ports, the top disk formed with a central port surrounded by an outwardly depressed seat, a vial of a length substantially one half the length of the drum having a transparent bottom said vial adapted to be positioned within the drum with its bottom in said seat said vial formed with a threaded neck, a threaded cap closure for the vial having a port, a bridge member having a central orifice to receive the neck end of the vial and oppositely extending arms having their ends engaging the marginal edge of the top disk to secure said vial to said disk, screen disks positioned within the drum against the inner faces of the top and bottom disks to mask the ports in said disks, said vial filled with a comminuted moisture sensitive indicating material and said drum filled with a comminuted water absorbent material surrounding said vial the marginal edges of said drum being turned inwardly to permanently secure said parts in assembled relationship.

AUSTIN T. RACE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,950,502 Madan Mar. 13, 1934 2,222,882 Shames Nov. 26, 1940 2,337,232 Daly Dec. 21, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 345,672 Great Britain Mar, 23, 1931 

